There were very few bicycles or electric scooters here. Extremely rare, in fact.
Of course, given the property prices at Alice Apartment, only those with considerable assets could afford to live here.
Thus, most residents traveled by car. Though Xiao Q hadn't been to the underground parking garage, he hadn't seen many cars parked above ground either.
Just as he was unlocking his bicycle in the garage,
someone approached nearby, also unlocking their bicycle.
The man wasn't far away, and after unlocking his bike, he pushed it toward Xiao Q.
Xiao Q noticed the man wasn't particularly old, but had an unkempt beard covering his upper lip, chin, and thick sideburns.
With dark circles under his eyes, the man walked over and asked directly: "Are you one of the new residents this time?"
Xiao Q nodded. The man then said: "I'm also a new arrival. My name is Ke Bei."
Ke Bei seemed accustomed to such jokes and continued: "You're probably not an ordinary resident."
"Are you investigating Alice Apartment?"
The sudden question wiped the slight smile off Xiao Q's face.
He replied seriously: "Investigation? What investigation? I don't understand what you're talking about."
Ke Bei muttered to himself: "My father was a private detective. He mysteriously disappeared several years ago while investigating a case. The case he was investigating involved Alice."
"Also, there's no need to hide it. I can smell a fellow investigator on you. Even if you're not one, you must have deep knowledge about detectives and criminal investigations."
"Additionally, I can read lips. I know everything you discussed with that administrator."
To others, this rapid-fire speech might have been confusing.
But Xiao Q listened carefully, pondering each word before finally asking: "What do you want?"
Ke Bei gestured: "Let's talk while we walk."
The two pushed their bicycles and left Alice Apartment together.
Meanwhile, in the live stream room:
[Damn! What are these two planning? Both investigating Alice Apartment?]
[Let them investigate! Makes it more exciting. There were investigators before, but none started this intensely.]
[Getting interesting! This 26th round keeps getting better.]
[Interesting? Now that they've left, we can't see or hear what they're doing!]
[Doesn't matter. They can't run far from their base anyway.]
Walking their bicycles without riding, they moved along the roadside where few pedestrians passed.
Ke Bei spoke first: "My purpose here is simple - investigate Alice and my father's disappearance. What about you?"
Xiao Q replied: "Mainly interested in Alice, plus I have a friend who signed the agreement and also disappeared here."
Ke Bei said: "Since our goals align, we can cooperate."
Xiao Q stared at Ke Bei for a long moment: "Cooperate? We just met today, still strangers, and you want to team up? Do you think I'd dare?"
Ke Bei countered: "If you lacked courage, you wouldn't have come to Alice Apartment as a new resident."
Xiao Q smiled: "True. 'Knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet deliberately heading there' - we're the same type. Fine, let's uncover the apartment's secrets together."
"A cooperative gamble."
Internally, Xiao Q thought temporary cooperation made sense given his limited individual capabilities. He could always withdraw later if issues arose.
He continued: "I haven't properly introduced myself. Just call me Xiao Q. I'm a college student majoring in criminal investigation."
Ke Bei: "No need for my introduction - you know my name and purpose. Oh, one thing I forgot - my occupation: unemployed. Used to be a private detective like my father, but quit after he disappeared."
Ke Bei added: "As partners, to show good faith, we should exchange information."
Unzipping his jacket, Ke Bei retrieved something from an inner pocket - a palm-sized leather notebook.
He led Xiao Q to a roadside bench where they sat down.
Handing the notebook to Xiao Q: "My father's journal - years of diaries. Flip to the last pages - that's where he wrote about Alice."
Xiao Q was surprised this new acquaintance would share something so important, despite their verbal agreement to cooperate.
He asked: "You trust me so quickly? Sharing critical information? What if I'm dangerous?"
Ke Bei: "Impossible. Though we've just met, I've observed you for a while. You're trustworthy. Otherwise I wouldn't have proposed cooperation."
Xiao Q chuckled and opened the notebook while Ke Bei smoked nearby, offering one to Xiao Q who declined.
The first page shocked Xiao Q.
Most people's handwriting deteriorates after school, sometimes becoming illegible even to themselves.
But Ke Bei's father's diary entries were exceptionally neat, without any sloppiness - like model student work.
After skimming early pages of routine detective notes (daily activities, clients etc.), Xiao Q went straight to the end for the Alice entries.
The diary began:
March 8th, Weather: Sunny
At 8am today, a young man came to my office.
He asked me to investigate his sister's disappearance.
Honestly, I usually avoid missing persons cases - too time-consuming.
But the payment was irresistible.
I took the case. Fortunately, this search wasn't worldwide.
The location was fixed - the young man said his sister disappeared at Alice Apartment.
April 9th, Weather: Sunny
Alice Apartment is bizarre. Surface-level normalcy, but I sense major secrets inside.
May 10th, Weather: Cloudy
Alice Apartment is undoubtedly the most mysterious case I've ever encountered!
Now even without the client, I want to uncover its secrets!
June 9th, Weather: Partly Cloudy
Days ago, a middle-aged man approached me and signed a contract - ¥10,000 per day to live inside.
Surface investigation yielded nothing. This is the only way - live there to discover the truth.
Hope everything goes smoothly!
The diary ended here... with the last entry dated years ago.
"This has some value, but not much."
"At least it confirms the apartment is definitely problematic, with numerous disappearances."
"And your father was in our exact situation - entered after signing the contract."
"Nothing else useful though."
Xiao Q concluded.